September 04, 2013

"Secretary of Explaining Stuff" explains Obamacare

President Barack Obama tapped the “Secretary of Explaining Stuff" to help him tout "Obamacare."

As the deadline for implementation fast approaches for the health law, former president Bill Clinton tries to explain why it is good thing when so many Americans don't seem to like and Republicans seem intent to kill it.

Clinton gave a speech today at his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark.

"We need all hands on deck here. The health of our people, the security and stability of our families and the strength of our economy are all riding on getting health care reform right and doing it well," he said. "That means we have to do it together."

Clinton said the law will help health care costs go down and provide more people with insurance.

"It's better than the current system," he said. "This gives us the best chance we've had to achieve nearly universal coverage … provide higher quality health care and limit cost increases."

The Republican National Committee launched an Obamacare awareness campaign focused on the costs of the law. The campaign will include a website, weekly videos, a petition to repeal Obamacare and of course a countdown clock to Oct. 1.

Obama has turned to Clinton before -- at last year's Democratic National Convention, fundraisers and key swing states before November's election. He dubbed Clinton "Secretary of Explaning Stuff."

It's the first in a series of events planned by the Obama administration to get the word out about the law as enrollment begins Oct. 1.

Since the Democratic-controlled Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without Republican support in 2010, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law last year and Obama won re-election. That did nothing to settle one of the most contentious debates in the nation’s capital.

The House has voted 37 times to repeal the law. Some GOP governors have rejected efforts to expand Medicaid, the government-run health program targeted for expansion in the measure, and have opposed setting up the required new marketplaces where individuals can buy insurance.